The Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, today participated in the morning panel of the Tirana Economic Forum III on the topic "The EU & Western Balkans: delivering a long overdue promise", which was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The panel also featured Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Bosnia and Herzegovina Council of Ministers Chairman Zoran Tegeltija, and the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi.
In continuation of this announcement, we convey the integral statement of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev:
"Let me thank the organizers at the very beginning for today's event, which will undoubtedly cause a stir in the European trends that I feel are currently stagnating. The reasons are multidimensional.
The main thing is that we are facing a planetary crisis caused by COVID-19. The crisis constantly changes the priorities and disrupts the multilateral processes. We are also facing challenges that retrograde forces across the continent impose on non-European values, constantly devaluing the gains of civilization founded by Adenauer, Schumann, and De Gasperi.
In such moments and in moments when daily politics undermines the basic values, we should ask ourselves the question: What if exactly 70 years ago our attention was turned to the reasons of why the continent was ruined, and not to the future we live in today.
The Republic of North Macedonia was the first country in the region to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement in 2001. Only 4 years later we became a candidate country for EU membership, and already in 2009, we received the first positive recommendation to start the negotiations with the EU. Now, 16 years later, we are still in the waiting room of the EU.
As Prime Minister, my task is to bring tough and courageous decisions, to work in the best interest of my citizens, and to work together with the Government I lead for the brighter future and vision proposed 70 years ago by the founders of today's modern, prosperous and a united Europe.
That is why 4 years ago we opened the most burning and pressing diplomatic issues with our neighbors and closed them in the spirit of good neighborliness, modern multilateral policy and the desire for a united region that thrives boldly forward.
Over the past year and a half, we have gone through a new process that redefined the negotiation methodology, but we also faced new unprincipled issues and bureaucratic obstacles that cannot and must not be a stumbling stone on the path of the prosperity of North Macedonia.
My country has been, is, and will be the crossroads of many civilizations, many ethnicities, and many cultural networks that leave the best of themselves for future generations to build upon their lives here at home.
Unfortunately, this small balanced political ecosystem that we have created over the centuries is vulnerable. It is vulnerable because citizens cannot continue to live by an idea alone. Courageous political action is also needed. It takes now more than ever to show vision, courage, and determination in making decisions that stabilize the continent.
The Republic of North Macedonia has never had any other interest than to cohabit peacefully and with dignity with its neighbors and with all nations and ethnicities in Europe. But to be crystal clear and to repeat once again the position of the Government. We will never allow ourselves to talk about what cannot be talked about. And that is who we are, what are our identity attributes, and what is the genesis of our statehood and language.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi and all the political and administrative actors who are constantly with us in this process, especially with regard to the assistance that has been given to us and which has yet to come in order to deal with the economic consequences that we experienced due to the crisis with COVID-19.
Three days ago The Government of the Republic of North Macedonia adopted the plan: "Europe at home". With this plan, we clearly and loudly declare what this government will do in terms of European integration and the processes it brings. Regardless of the mood in the neighborhood or in Brussels, we are committed to the good of our citizens. We take the best European practices and weave them into the national fabric.
"Europe at home" is a kind of timetable with identified activities and holders of those activities who need to complete their responsibilities within a specific timeframe in order to improve the institutions and systems, through which the citizens receive better services and a better life and prove once again that North Macedonia deserves its place in the European Union and that it naturally belongs to the European family of nations.
The document is prepared on the basis of the commitments we have made arising between North Macedonia and the European Union, arising from the Stabilization and Association Agreement, and the recommendations of the European Commission.
Through the implementation of these European reforms, we will fulfill the recommendations of the Council of Europe, the Venice Commission, GRECO, the reports and recommendations of the group of senior experts, the assessment missions, and other international reports.
For each priority area, precise goals, activities, competent institutions for the implementation of the activities, and deadlines for their realization are listed. The document was consulted with civil society organizations (NGO sector) working in the field of European integration, as well as with the Delegation of the European Union in North Macedonia.
The COVID-19 crisis has slowed us down, but it will not stop us. My government has a clear political legitimacy confirmed in the parliamentary elections that took place just over 6 months ago and we will harness that legitimacy in full force to work for the good of our citizens.
We remain open as we have been so far but we will not wait for someone to tell us where we need to improve. We are capable enough to do that now and immediately.
The Latin saying goes: “Ad Astra Per Aspera”. Yes true, the road to the stars is paved with difficulties. But now is the time to overcome them all.
Thank you for the invitation and the opportunity to present the views of my government and my people."
